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Downtown - South Side - Hotel Zone - Further North - North Bay - South Bay

This list is terribly out of date, but it gives a guide to venues and I will up-date it soon. - Promise
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Downtown
Style Venue Location Comments
Rock & more Hard Rock Cafe Malecón #652 Paseo Diaz Ordaz Bar with music. Reliable rock at this international chain. Currently featuring rock band REVOLVER, 10:30 onwards.
Disco Hilo Malecón #588 Paseo Diaz Ordaz Dance Club - Disco. Stylish disco right on Vallarta's Malecón - no live music, but throbbing disco for dancing.
Latin La Bodeguita Del Medio Malecón #858 Paseo Diaz Ordaz Bar with music.Live Cuban music nightly, dancing and Mojitos.
Jazz La Dolce Vita Malecón #674 Paseo Diaz Ordaz Restaurant. This popular Italian restaurant on Vallarta's Malecon has a love/hate relationship with music. Some years it offers some of the best jazz in town; other years there is no music at all.
Mexican Navigante Bar at Hotel Rio Morelos #170 at Hotel Rio. Bar with music. One of the best little bars in town, air-conditioned when necessary. Features Mexican troubador Armando nightly 10-1. Free popcorn, inexpensive drinks. The bar's entrance is on a side street, near the southbound bridge over the Rio Cuale.
Rock & more Paradise Burgers Malecón & Vicario Upstairs bar/restaurant along the Malecon.
Special Events Los Arcos Amphitheater & Malecon Music Los Arcos Amphitheater across from central plaza & on the Malecón on weekends. It's no wonder that the arches at Vallarta's amphitheater have become the symbol of this remarkable city: Here, throughout the year, especially on weekend nights, special free events are scheduled for the enjoyment of both local residents, as well as visitors. No trip to the area is complete without catching one of these events at Los Arcos and on the Malecón, weekends, when it's closed to traffic.
Style Venue Location Comments
Brass Band Municipal Band Concert Vallarta Main Plaza Every Friday & Sunday at 6 p.m. Almost every Friday and Sunday evening at the plaza in front of City Hall, one will find Vallarta's municipal band performing to an appreciative crowd of locals, who are usually up and dancing with the lively music.
Mariachi Pipi's Restaurant Guadalupe Sanchez #807 Restaurant. Roving Mexican groups nightly. Very popular with tourists.
Rock & more Senor Frog's Morelos and Galeana, Downtown Very popular spot, especially with the younger crowd. Live rock band all week long.

South Side

 
Style Venue Location Comments
Rock & more Miguelitos The Tree House Basilio Badillo # 287 223-1263 Closed for remodeling
Wed. Roy and the PV All Stars. : Thu. Graham Cook from 2 Slick: Fri & Sat The Traveling Band all at 8:30 - 12 PM
Romantic Archie's Wok Francisca Rodriguez #130 Restaurant. Owner Cindy is proud of her featured musicians. Mainstay here for years is d'Rachael, who plays harp and flute, sometimes simultaneously -- she sings too. Music Thurs-Sat. 7:30 -10:30.
Rock & more Ritmos Beach Cafe South end of Los Muertos Beach, near Seahorse Sculpture.
 Bar with music. Music on the beach from 4 to 7 p.m. This year music ranges from rock & raggae to funk and jazz. Performance schedule changes from time to time. Good food and reasonable Happy Hour drinks are a bonus.
Latin Cuates & Cuetes Next to Los Muertos Beach pier One of Vallarta's major musical nightspots, featuring Paco Barajas and friends, who play fine Latin jazz. Plus The Celebrators on Sun, Wed & Thur. 7:30-10:30. From time to time, visiting jazz musicians sit in.
Romantic Daiquiri Dick's Los Muertos Beach at Carranza Restaurant. Often features D'Rachael and her romantic harp at Sunday Brunch, noon to 3 p.m.
Latin El Dorado Pulpito at Los Muertos Beach El Dorado Restaurant, located on the Los Muertos Beach Music Strip, offers music Tuesday-Sunday. Most nights music runs from 6:45 to 9:45. Saturday nights currently feature late-night dancing with a live Cuban band.
Mariachi La Huerta Col. Paso Ancho Sunday afternoon Mongolian Barbeque, with a great mariachi band. Out of the way, very informal outdoor place -- popular with local Mexican residents. Take Route 04 bus and ask for La Huerta (Hoo-were-ta). This weekly event, during the high season, is a great way to have fun.
Latin La Palapa Los Muertos Beach & Pulpito This highly regarded restaurant has a small separate bar area perfect for music. Owner ALBERTO PEREZ featured on Monday-Tuesday 8-11 -- request "Samba Puerto Vallarta." Guitarist/singer RAUL Wed-Sat, joined by classical guitarist RIGOBERTO on weekends. Sax player Oscar Terrazas often sits in too -- he's sensational.
Jazz Le Bistro Isla Cuale north of the northbound bridge Enjoy breakfast accompanied by live piano. Recorded jazz the rest of day.
Mexican Majahuitas Restaurant & Rincon Bohemio Basilio Badillo #331 Mexican duo El Techer reigns nightly at this casually elegant restaurant -- one of the best laid-out venues for music in Puerto Vallarta. Good music; good food.
Mariachi Mariachi Loco Ignacio Vallarta, corner Cardenas Very popular venue with Vallarta natives, as well as visitors. Features Mariachi Arriba Mexico, plus ranchero & romantic singers and comedians who change frequently.
Country & Rock Que?Pasa Olas Altas Aquiles Serdan #625, Opens 11 am. daily. Open Mike 'Jam for the Kids' Fri. 5-8pm, amp available. Live music Tuesday nights with "The Rednecked Mothers" 8pm and you better get there early to get a table. just off the corner of L. Cardenas. Map
Jazz River Cafe Cuale Island, by southbound bridge One of the most enjoyable venues for music in PV. BEVERLY & WILLOW, one of most respected groups in town, perform jazz standards in the bar/lounge out front -- Wednesday thru Sunday during dinner hours during high season. Vacationing jazz players sometimes sit in. Live music usually runs from November thru August, offering summer guests one of the best music options in town.
Other STREET MUSIC Lazaro Cardenas #193, across from the park Music often spontaneously happens on the sidewalk outside Lazaro Cardenas #193 across from the Lazaro Cardenas park on the South Side. Introduce yourself to store owner Luis Ramos for more information. Backpackers & locals jam -- great fun whenever it materializes.
Various The Palm Olas Altas #508 One of few venues in Vallarta that is really laid out to spotlight music. Live acts offer a mixed bag of music, from drag musical comedy to vibrant jazz, to a mixed audience. During the high season, there is music every night, with featured acts changing monthly. Canadian jazz singer/sax player Carrie Chesnutt performs Mon@9pm & Thu@11pm through Mar 31st.
Hotel Zone - Marina
Style Venue Location Comments
Latin,
Nuevo Trova		 Blanco y Negro Fco. Medina Ascensio, behind Blockbuster This little room is one of the most important music venues in the entire region. It is owned and operated by Mario Blanco, an internationally known and highly respected composer/performer in the Nuevo Trova genre, a form born in Cuba but now significant throughout Latin America. Mario, of course, performs here most nights, sometime after 11 p.m. -- and he opens the stage to other musicians who perform music of significance. Monday nights often feature local poets.
Banda / Grupo Bolanos Restaurant Bar Libramiento #754 Located on the service road by the Libramiento, near the tunnel, this restaurant features Mexican Banda, Grupo and Norteno music on weekends
Disco Christine   No live music here, but very popular for disco dancing
Disco Collage   Very large entertainment center -- disco dancing.
Mexican El Faro Bar Marina Vallarta, a top the lighthouse Late night troubadour music, with a spectacular view if you can get a window-side seat. Popular with locals.
Latin
Salsa		 J & B Tropical Club Fco. Medina Ascenclo #2043 Serious latin dancing to live music by CHEVERE. Club opens at 10 but live music starts after midnight, Wed-Sat. Free dance classes Thursday and Saturday at 10 p.m.
Pitillal
Mexican La Herradura Hidalgo #296 Disco with live banda and grupo music on Saturday nights and occasional other nights. Only 3 blocks from main plaza in Pitillal, easy transportation by bus and taxi. Popular especially with Mexican national audience and visitors seeking local flavor.
North Bay
Rock & more Asaderos Av. Pacifico #15 Bucerias Folk and classic rock during the tourist season. Wednesday night with Danny Sanchez & Don Thompson. Open mic hosted on Saturday nights, hosted by Don Thompson.
Various Britannia Coral #65
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle 		British pub, Guinness, Darts and Pub Food, features music several nights a week at 8pm. Wenesdays - Tamagochi.
Rock & more El Lugar V. Carranza #10, upstairs.
Bucerias 		Lively music here a couple nights a week during the tourist season.
Mexican Folk Ixta (Bucerias Grill) Bucerias El Frijoleros, Danny and Camilla, are performing on Saturday nights beginning about 8:00 Jalisco time.
Other El Pescador Bucerias El Pescador serves as the homebase of extremely popular Bubba & the Bottom Feeders, which usually performs there on Sundays, 4-7 p.m. during the tourist season. The last performance this season -- April 4. But look for things to start up again next December or January.
Mexican Espressions Cafe Agustin Melgar #265, Bucerias Guitarist/vocalist Tony Marquez performs Tuesday through Saturday. He is an exquisite musician with wide-ranging repertoire from jazz to latin pop and with a gentle, affectionate touch. Reservations essential.
Blues Mango Grill Crn. of Camarón & Pampano Co-owners Greg & Sue Lyons invite you stop in. Wed: Estrada Blues Band, Fri: guitar soloist Salomon Kanafany. 329-295-5736
Jazz Mark's Bar & Grill Lazaro Cardenas #56 Bucerias The 3-D Jazz Trio packs the house most Tuesdays during the tourist season at this upscale restaurant.
Latin Black Forest Restaurant
formerly Papasito's		 Marlin #16 La Cruz de Huanacaxtle This fine restaurant always presents some of the finest music along the north shore. This season it features gypsy flamenco artists Latcho & Andrea on Wednesday nights and David Ruiz on guitar/vocals on Sundays. Music starts at 7:30 p.m., PV time. 2 for 1 drinks.
Rock & more Philo's Delfin #15 La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
329-295-5068. Open Tuesday through Saturday 4 pm to 1 am		 Owner Philo closed up his California recording studio and opened his restaurant/bar/recording studio Philo's in La Cruz. This place has become the music center of the entire north bay. Tuesday:  Philo and Friends - Wednesday: Open Mike - Thursday: & Friday: Ballena rocks with original and classic rock and blues - Saturday: Philo and Friends.
Music starts at 9 pm; no cover charge. Closed Mon.
Rock & more Senor Whiskers Las Parotas RV Park [turn at Famar Restaurant, go 1.5 km.] Bucerias Out of the way venue, very popular with the musicians in Bucerias. The Cat's Ass on Fridays from 4pm. Saturdays The Red Neck Mothers play from 4pm.
South bay
Jazz El Set South Highway at Conchas Chinas El Set offers a beautiful view and live music seven days a week. Romantic piano from Eduardo Rubio on Tuesday, Wednesday & Sunday evenings; Eduardo's jazz quartet, featuring Tere on sax, on Thursday through Saturday; solo marimba for Sunday Brunch; and a romantic trio on Monday nights. Guests really are expected to stay on for a full meal.